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I noticed he likes to leave his account open on his laptop And he takes his laptop with his he swims after classes He leaves it in his locker while he does laps, along with his iPod It wasn’t difficult to figure out his coh school It’s al a difficult ti whether to load my music on it or if I should fill it with country Chase cannot stand countrymy feet from my perch on the bench as I watch Loden sway just under the surface of the water He racefully across the pool It’s alh and returnto work these et this out of the way, I’ll have the rest of the evening to spend with Loden

The last feeeks have been great, but we don’t get asrituals and his practices, we’re lucky to get an actual date in Most nights are spent just like this At the pool I work on ho because I appreciate his coher on his list of priorities But our relationship is still new I can’t expect hi for such a short a?" Chase says in asp at his unexpected proxi heart I swing at hi "It’s not funny You gave me a mini heart attack"

He runs his hand over his bare stolance up at his face He grins atout the hard plains of the six-pack he has going on Freaking swimmers and their hot, swi I shouldn’t be e next to nothing The whole swim team wears Speedos It’s impossible to not look at all the skin they show But somehow it feels different with Chase

At least he wears trunks He’s just too beautiful to be walking around all wet and tucked into a tight, barely-there Speedo Even with the tattoos fro colors, he’s still incredible to look at Al I’d buy, but soaze soht back down over his toned stohts I flick my eyes up to his face and he smirks

"You done?"

"You’d think there’d be h as if I’ at," Chase replies

Now that hefor Loden He’s out of the water and talking to souys while he towels off I know I shouldn’t, but I compare him to Chase Only his body because Loden is way ahead of Chase in all the places that ence and drive He has a sure future Where Chase is heading straight to his parents’ basement

But… I shiver, despite the heat of the room Loden falls short in the looks depart, Loden isn’t ugly Not even close In fact, I’irls that would find hi than Chase

I’m just not one of them

But that doesn’t matter I’ers in front of lare up at hi ht in front of your boyfriend" Chase crosses his arhs dramatically "I’m not on display There is so much more to h that escapes "Sorry," I say softly "I got lost in thought for a minute"

He scrunches his lips and nods "It’s cool You’re not the first girl I’ve ed into speechlessness"

"Bored," I correct "You bored me Not ed And I’m never speechless" I tossall et all defensive like that, it justto cover up"

I turn around so he can seedefensive It’s called honesty I thought we called a truce?"

"We did I haven’t called you a bitch since that day I ht it a couple of times, but I haven’t actually said it out loud once"

I raiseirls do Your secret’s safe with nites because there is some truth to his words I can’t tell if he knows it or not, but I know it, and that’s enough

"Never ether and he frowns at me I step around hi with you"

I look down at my hand wrapped in his for several heartbeats His hand feels so different froh Callused fro his bass Another shiver runs over my spine and I pull away

"Unless I’ ether and shake my head "I have a boyfriend You shouldn’t mess with me that way"

He lets out a harsh breath and nods his head slowly "Got it Won’t happen again"

His words feel like a slap to the face The thought of hi with me burns just as much as when he messes with me I pivot on my heel and walk as quickly as I can to the locker room to find Loden

~~

I push the door open slowly and announce e I hear the shower running, but get no answer, so I move inside slowly The locker area is empty, so I sit on a bench and wait for Loden to finish up

My gaze keeps heading over to Chase’s locker--number twenty-two But I’ve lost all desire to hack his iPod Instead, I pull out my book and continue to work on my homework

I just finish the final problem when I hear the squeak of the shower faucet and then silence

I clear my throat "I’m in here," I call out

Loden comes around the corner, a torapped around his waist He looks athis locker I hile he fishes around inside, but as he begins dressing without a word, I stand up

"I finished ive hi for so

"Did you want to do soo to a movie? Or we could rent one if you’d rather do that"

Still nothing

The rattle of theshut startlesover his shoulder and his hands on his hips He stops a foot away, his gaze never wavering

"What the hell was that?"

I shake hs one of those dry, not ha-ha funny laughs, but pissed off, breathy laughs "You and Malloy What the fuck was that Annie?"

Oh That

I don’t respond because I’ to come up with some kind of excuse Souy in front of your boyfriend I know I need a good defense Loden’s pre-law, after all, but o speechless

Loden steps into ainst a locker with his body His chest is firainst my torso He lowers his face directly in front ofaround with hiainst rips my upper ar withmy arms painfully